Sites and Clubs

Eastbourne Naturist Swim Club and ‘The Renaissance Nude’I happened to see an article online about Paris naturists arranging a visit to a modern art gallery – the Palais de Tokyo. It made the news not the least because 30,000 people wanted to get tickets to be naked in the art gallery. Although this was a private event and only 161 people were able to attend it was notable for being so newsworthy.

A friend of mine suggested we try the Royal Academy and specifically the exhibition ‘The Renaissance Nude’. I wasn’t sure this would have great appeal and I thought that pictures that were 500 years old might be difficult to relate to. After all many naturists believe that staring at others (dressed or not) is rude and we engage in eye to eye contact much more that non-naturists and that gives new naturists a comforting experience as they are given the confidence that people are interested in their personalities rather than their looks.

So actually we are viewing the pictures, much as a non-naturist might, to find out what people really look like, except that we know when we see an idealised representation that is unrealistic. This period from around 1400 turns out to be very interesting and the reasons for painting nudes then was often quite different from the current, often commercial, standpoint.

A group of naturists admire a nude cast of Hercules during a private event at Royal Academy of Arts in May in London Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Royal Academy of Arts

I wrote to them and a group visit was quite easily arranged, although we would be segregated as usual from the public having to attend after normal opening hours. The Royal Academy provided online ticket arrangements and organised a low key media release.

62 naturists visited and we were provided with a room to undress, the cloakroom stayed open, a photographer from Getty Images made some pictures and we all proceeded naked up the grand staircase and then up some glass stairs to the top gallery. Here we had the exhibition to ourselves for two hours. We were able to purchase audio guides and the main shop stayed open. There are also quite a few free galleries available to see and although there were several members of staff in the building who were not officiating with us, there were no signs of awkwardness. The staff who looked after us were very welcoming and at ease. Any trepidation that there might have been from the RA’s very first naturist visit soon evaporated and by the end we were discussing a repeat visit and we are keen to do so.

Each Saturday evening, around 50 people meet for a swim at Chester's Northgate Arena.
It's a group made up of members of various ages, and it's a great chance for all of them to socialise, keep fit and have a good catch up.
Nothing unusual about that, you might think. But actually, there's just one thing that's different about these swimming sessions as opposed to regular ones.
All the swimmers are completely naked
Nude swimming sessions are held at Northgate Arena by Wirral Naturist Club

They're members of the Wirral Naturist Club, which has been holding regular sessions at the Northgate Arena almost every week since 1976.
Member Rod Burkey explained more about the club, which was founded on the principles of 'family naturism' and consists mainly of couples and families with some singles making up the membership.
"We have members of all ages, backgrounds shapes and sizes," he said. "We're a friendly group, who enjoy socialising and keeping fit – although you may very well find that there is more talking than exercising!
"Our swims are open to all ages and we are happy to attract and welcome anyone who wants to give naturism a try. Prospective members have to fill out a form and attend three swim sessions before being able to become members which gives all involved a fair chance to find out if they wish to continue," explains Rod.
And if you haven't tried Naturism before, Rod insists there is no need to be embarrassed - it is 'a most pleasurable experience'. Continued…Read full original article…

A tui flits across the fairway, a cooler breeze rustles through the gum trees. I’m not dressed for the drop in temperature.

As part of my mission to get the full naturist experience at the club – motto: Stay a while, we’ve got nothing on – it’s all or nothing. I choose nothing.

Camaraderie is a key benefit of the club, members say. Virginia Woolfe

Walking with me on the rolling fairways of the club’s pitch-and-putt nine-hole golf course are secretary Lorraine, wearing just a leopard-print head scarf and a gold chain necklace, vice-president Andrew, in a hat and sandals; committee member Geoff in a floppy hat and red t-shirt and president Russell, positively overdressed in an akubra-style hat and floral shirt.

Not a pair of pants in sight. I’m equipped with only a pen and notepad, which subconsciously moves south towards areas that have not seen the sun in a while. It takes an effort to keep writing.

It takes an effort not to chicken out of the whole thing. Fifty-plus years of conditioning that you wear clothes in the outdoors, especially in company, is a hard thing to shrug off. Continued…Read full original article…

Four died and 76,000 acres were destroyed in the Northern California blaze

A nudist resort near San Francisco is reopening its doors for the first time in three years after a wildfire left it in charred ruins.

Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown, California is now accepting visitors who pay $25 for day passes from Monday through Thursday and $35 on Friday.

The resort will resume operations on Saturday [19 January201], according to the SF Gate.

Burned out remains of the popular nudist destination, Harbin Hot Springs, is seen after the Valley Fire roared through the area near Middletown, California on September 14, 2015 AFP/Getty ImagesThe same heart-shaped pool is seen above after its refurbishment Harbin Hot Springs

In September 2015, the Valley Fire which started in Lake County quickly spread and destroyed more than 76,000 acres in Northern California, killing four people and destroying almost 2,000 buildings.

It took firefighters about a month to fully contain the wildfire, which caused at least $921million in insured property damage.

At the time, the Valley Fire was the third most destructive fire in California history.

The sellers are asking for $NZ380,000 for the 28-year business lease ($360,000). Matt D’Anvers from Coffeys Tourism Properties, who is managing the sale, said: “It’s completely natural all the way through,” with manicured gardens, a secluded bush drop and a river. There is also mini golf, pétanque, careful security, and, as long as they abide by the “compulsory nudity” rule for swimming – a pool, spa and a sauna for guests.

So, what’s it like running naturist accommodation? Tom Carrigan and his wife, Amina, have run the park – the only commercial naturist accommodation on the north island – for two years. Continued…Read full original article…

Volunteering at your naturist clubYears ago, after we had set our first careful steps into naturism and when we were browsing the internet for a new naked place to visit we stumbled upon a mention “federation membership required”. What was that supposed to mean?

Until then, a naturist campground to us was just like a textile one where you could show up, pay and setup your tent. Now, apparently, we were in need of some membership card.
It only took a couple of clicks to figure out that naturism was in fact something pretty well organised. That there were actual federations taking care of the rights of naturists and guarantee a safe environment. They organise events where it’s possible to get in touch with other naturists and what appealed the most to us, they would give us a card that promised entry to places where until now we wouldn’t be allowed.

Unlike in many other countries, in Belgium it was not possible to directly become member of the naturist federation. One has to become member of a naturist club. So that’s what we tried to do. We picked one of the 10 or so clubs, it didn’t really matter which one as long as we would be able to get federation membership, and received a form to fill out. Name, age, gender, address, all the regular questions, and then “What can you do for our club?”
Well… euhm… yeah…

The difference in nudist camps is enormous, ranging from the small 10 spot campground which normally caters only to members and once in a while a guest to huge naturist villages like Cap d’agde in France.

The choice can be difficult, where do we want to go?

Both types have of course their advantages and disadvantages, and what seems to be an advantage for one isn’t necessarily the same for someone else.

To help you find out what fits best in your perfect nakation, we’ll give you some of the characteristics.

It’s easy to imagine that the amount of facilities on the bigger camps is much bigger than on the smaller camps, but that doesn’t make them better. Swimming pools for example. Most nudist camps have one and the smaller camps often won’t have a 25 meter pool. But what’s the need when you only have about 20 guests at one time? Unless you’re planning to practice your swimming skills, you’ll have enough space in the smaller pool. When, on the other hand, there’s only one big pool on the larger camp, it might get a cramped from time to time. Continued…Read full original article…

Milwaukeeans needed distraction during the Great Depression. Urbanism, it seemed, was failing them. The great brick and mortar works that had once powered the city were quieting and people were growing desperate and questioning things they had never before questioned.

So, in the spring of 1934, when Dr. Alois Knapp arrived in Milwaukee promising to build a state-wide movement back to nature – and out of clothing – people paid attention.

Mirror Lake in Sauk County, where Wisconsin’s first-ever nudist camp was established in 1934. wikicommons

Knapp was an Austrian. He had trained as a priest, but found the law more intriguing. He and his brother left their homeland between the World Wars and settled on a huge plot of Indiana farmland. Finding Americans to be a people in desperate need of a relaxing and affordable means of escape from the speed of modern life, he transformed 180 acres of the land into a nature resort. At Knapp’s resort, dubbed “Zorro Nature Camp,” clothing was forbidden, bringing to the US the long-established European practice of nudism.

Knapp found a following in both Indiana and across the Midwest. In Milwaukee, a local man named Max Hilbig became such a devotee of Knapp that he pledged 100 acres of land in Sauk County to establish Wisconsin’s first-ever nudist camp. Knapp came to Milwaukee in April 1934 to dedicate the camp and drum up support for his cause. Continued…Read full original article…

For nudist clubs in the Puget Sound region, Halloween marks the end of an active summer season. From painting their bodies to adding masks or capes, nudists try to incorporate humor and creativity into their costumes.

“I was a treasure troll last year, so I wore a red wig and had a blinky thing in my belly button,” said Dawnzella Gearhart, 56, a member and spokeswoman for the Tiger Mountain Family Nudist Park in Issaquah. “One year, I was Miss Piggy and all I had on was a blonde wig, feather boa, high heels, tail and a snout.”

Puget Sound nudists are holding their celebrations this year amid declining membership in nudist clubs nationally, according to the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR). Fewer people have been joining the clubs over the past decade because nudism is mainly popular with generations that are aging and has failed to gain traction with millennials, according to AANR spokeswoman Mary Kolassa. The group serves about 30,000 members in the U.S. at 180 affiliated clubs and resorts.

Tiger Mountain, formally known as Fraternity Snoqualmie, first opened in 1945. Gearhart said the park has around 250 members, but was home to as many as 500 in the early 2000s. Club membership was especially hard hit following the 2008 recession, when people cut non-essential spending, she said. Continued…Read full original article…

Despite some nippy weather, members of a Wellington naturist club have taken part in New Zealand’s first ever National Nude Gardening Day.

The Naturist Federation celebrated 60 years of baring all this year, and now boasts 1600 members.

Brent Henderson hopes National Nude Gardening Day, which was celebrated on Saturday, will help grow that number.

“It’s like a country club, that all you have to do is take your clothes off,” he said. “The old world was the old nudist colony and everyone thought we were all weird. Now we’re trying to come out into the world a lot more, to say, what’s the big deal?” Continued…Read full original article…

Members of Reading Naturist Group (RNG) say they have been defeated by the ‘uncaring’ management of Reading Borough Council (RBC).

The group previously gathered at Arthur Hill Pool before the 105-year-old facility was closed in October 2016.

Arthur Hill Memorial Pool, Reading

Meetings were moved to The Meadway Sports Centre in Tilehurst, but a hike in prices has seen a decline in the number of members.

Mark Young, a member of RNG, said: “The naturist swim would almost certainly have remained significantly better attended at The Meadway if the council had not disrupted the dynamic of the existing group by refusing to offer a swimming session on Thursday evening, the day the swim previously took place at Arthur Hill and instead insisting on the swim moving to Friday evening.

“This is even though many of the council’s own public swimming sessions in the late evening at The Meadway seemed to have a lower attendance still than the swimming session run by RNG.”

Every fortnight Plympton Pool hosts a rather special event for one of the city’s more unusual organisations.

On the surface ‘Plymouth Sun Club’ sounds fairly nondescript, you might be inclined to believe it’s a group of sun chasers desperate to sunbathe in spite of our mostly cloudy and unpredictable weather.

In reality Plymouth Sun Club is a group of people who like to get naked.

Two club members baring all Erin Black

This starkers society started life as the ‘Sunwest Club’ but folded in the late 1990s. In 2012 a man reinstated the group after finding there was nowhere in the city for naturists to meet up and practise their hobby.

The Sun Club as we know it today has been running since its inaugural event in April 2013 and has around 30 members.

Understandably some constituents of the group like to keep their pastime private.

This is probably because the nudist lifestyle is still the butt (sorry) of jokes and judgement, despite, shock horror , the fact we’re all naked underneath our clothes. Continued…Read full original article…

Oregon is no stranger to nudity. Our state is home to amenities galore for nude recreation, including two nude beaches, clothing-optional hot springs, the world’s largest naked bike ride and four nude resorts.

The oldest of those resorts, Squaw Mountain Ranch, first opened in 1933 as “The Hesperian Society” a nudist colony in the woods near Estacada. Two years later, enterprising Oregonian reporter Edward M. Miller and photographer Frank Sterrett paid a visit, “prompted by an active case of Acute Curiosity.”

Their visit, and the early days of Oregon’s nude recreation, were captured in Miller’s colorful narration, printed in the Sunday Oregonian on Aug. 11, 1935. (The story is reprinted here, edited for length and with some words omitted due to illegibility from scanning the original copy of the newspaper.) Continued…Read full original article…

Southleigh Manor holiday park at St Columb Major, near Newquay, has been brought to the market.

The holiday business, where being in the buff is de rigueur, could be yours to own for a cool £1.1 million after owners Bob and Kathy Prescott decided to throw in the towel and enjoy a well-earned retirement.

Nudist Southleigh Manor holiday park near St Columb Major is up for sale Southleigh Manor

The pair, who have been running the bare-all holiday park for 18 years, said they made up their mind to sell the site following the recent birth of their grandson, Harry.

Mr Prescott, now 69, said: “We’ve always liked Cornwall ever since coming down here on holidays. We came here to the park 19 years ago and the people who had it were struggling.

“After a conversation we ended up buying up the place. It turned out to be a very expensive holiday but we’ve done well out of it. But with my wife not being in the best of health and the birth of our grandson, we feel it’s time to enjoy our retirement and take it easy a bit more.”

Mr Prescott said that while there have been a few expressions of interest for the site already – which he could not divulge – he is not sure whether any new owners will want to keep the business au naturel as it currently is. Continued…Read full original article…

A little over two weeks ago I blogged about the current problems existing within the nudity/naturism culture in Australia. Or more specifically how the culture has been hijacked and has completely lost its appeal to anyone considering involvement. I identified problems in which many of you can relate and I asked all of you to get involved in the first step of the process; Cleaning up online.

What a response we’ve received so far!!!!!!

The last two weeks have been overwhelming. We have received so much support from our followers and its so incredible to see so many people willing to get on board with us and what we hope to achieve. We’ve had a number of people who have previously stayed silent about all the messages they’ve received starting to “call these people out”. A number of people from existing naturist communities both within Australia and around the globe have also reached out and thanked us for starting this campaign. Whenever someone comments something inappropriate on our photo’s, before any of our admin team have even seen the comment, there have already been a number of comments from you people “calling them out” and letting them know that their comments are not welcome here! AMAZING!!!!! Continued…Read full original article…

I’ve grown up with nudity all of my life and have considered myself to be a naturist for the best part of my cognitive years. Spending a large part of my youth in mainland Europe, I was exposed to a more liberal and less prudish approach to nudity than I have experienced in the UK. When I was old enough to do so, I joined the Central Council for British Naturism (CCBN) and its affiliated group Young British Naturists or YBN. I had always been told how welcoming and kind the naturist community was, so was excited to start attending the local monthly swim.

Unfortunately, no other members of the YBN came to my local swim, and as a single male, the more elderly couples viewed me with scepticism and cynicism; however, after we had conversed over a quick steam many had began to accept me. I went as often as I could so that I would become a familiar face, and while more and more people started to recognise and engage with me, due to the significant age difference, there was very little that I had in common with them other than naturism and never felt truly welcome there.

I enjoyed the freedom that being naked afforded me. It felt natural. I never once saw nudity in this context as sexual. It was liberating and comfortable for me. However, as I got older, insecurities struck and I had zero body confidence. Women consistently judged me, men routinely mocked me, ironically the only place that I never felt judged was in the naked community of British Naturism. I never questioned their motivations, never thought for one second that I was being judged for the number of moles I had on my body, my lack of muscularity, the size of my penis, or sexual prowess; as far as I’m aware everyone that I’ve met since joining British Naturism has lived up to this expectation, whereas a significant number of people I’ve met and grew close to outside of the community, have let me down over and over again. Continued…Read full original article…

Chuck’s parents weren’t sure how to introduce him and his younger brother to their lifestyle choice. But as the boys got older, they decided it was time to take them to Mountain Air Ranch, Colorado’s family-friendly nudist club that was then almost thirty years old.

Members often compete in friendly, fun-in-the-sun games. MarTographeThe swimming pool slide is particularly fun without a swimsuit. Gary G.,/Mountain Air Ranch

“Everybody thinks that seeing your mom and dad naked for the first time is a total shock. For a twelve-year-old kid, maybe,” says Chuck, recalling his first visit to the club in 1962. “But I love this place. It either works for you or it doesn’t.” And it works for Chuck, who’s considered the ranch his home away from home since he returned from serving in the Vietnam War. (He, like many regulars at Mountain Air Ranch, gave only his first name for this piece.) Continued…Read full original article…

On Saturday July 7th, 2018th the VanTan Nudist Club will be holding an open house.

If you’ve never heard of them before, you’re not alone. The club operates quietly, despite being the oldest club of their kind in all of Canada.

VanTan is conveniently tucked away on the North Shore

They describe themselves as a “family friendly naturist club” and are affiliated with the American Association of Nude Recreation.

The reason for the open house is that the club is seeking new members. As a sort-of-co-op they’re actually owned by their members.

As you would expect they operate off the grid on a 3 hectare property, complete with composting toilets and solar power. A wood fired sauna awaits your nakedness. Heck, there’s probably naked people in it right now as you read this. Continued…Read full original article…

If there is any time to consider going nude in public, it’s during the sweltering Phoenix summer.

If you’re ready to or curious about baring it all, consider heading to the clothing optional resort Shangri La Ranch in New River during Nude Recreation Week, July 8-15. Hosted by the American Association for Nude Recreation and the Naturist Society, the week brings awareness to nude recreation and is celebrated at more than 200 clubs across the U.S. and Canada.

Nude Recreation Week returns July 10-16. Shangri La Ranch in New River will host an event on July 15. Patrick Breen/The Republic

“It’s an informational week and chance to get out there and enjoy nudism as a form of wholesome, family recreation,” said Danielle Smith, who handles public relations for the resort. “We encourage people to come out and have fun, and see what it’s all about and get rid of the stigma.”

Smith encourages anyone new to nude recreation to call the resort and ask questions, or just come out and the $26 daily rate is waived for first-timers. Guests just need to bring a towel in order to sit on surfaces at the resort. Continued…Read full original article…

Do you have dreams of being naked in a crowd of clothed strangers? Are you okay with that? If so, you may have the makings of a nudist. Especially if you’re over 35.
Nudist resorts all over the world are noticing a drop in younger members. Even in Germany, which has embraced nudism for more than a century, fewer young people are becoming part of organized nudism. It’s the same in North America.

As early as 2007, columnist Bonnie Henry wrote in the Arizona Daily Star that nudism’s allure was lost on the young. Of the 50,000 registered nudists in the United States at that time, most were older than 35. Fewer young people are interested in paying several hundred dollars to join a club and sunbathe, swim and play volleyball with members their parents’ age.

As Henry put it, “Who wants to bounce the ball around with folks who look like they’re three years away from the handbag factory?”

It seems that a generation that’s used to downloading movies and music for free, and doesn’t believe in paying for news online, also doesn’t want to pay to go somewhere to be naked. If a young couple or group wants to do so, they’ll just go to an obliging beach or park and bare all.

According to spokesperson Dory Ainsworth of the Ponderosa Nature Resort near Freelton, north of Hamilton, Ont., paying to be naked seems to be the stumbling block for young people. Continued…Read full original article…

For the first time, visitors will be welcomed by naturist islanders in Loch Lomond on Doors Open Day when famous and historic buildings reveal their secrets.

The Scottish Outdoor Club, based on the loch’s Inchmurrin Island is celebrating its 80th anniversary and is offering curious members of the public an opportunity to look around the 11-acre site in an attempt to attract new members.

Naturist club members

Teena Gould, the social convener of the club, said the organisation was delighted to be included in the event after being approved last week.

She said: “We are over the moon that a few ramshackle huts in Loch Lomond has joined an illustrious list of cathedrals and city halls that will be open to the public for free.

“At first it was a bit of a pipe dream but when I started to look at the criteria, I was convinced we were suited.

A couple ejected from a nudist colony for renovating a bush cabin have laid bare their wrangle with the club as part of legal action over $80,000 in damages.

The Helios Society nudist club in the Dandenongs has extensive grounds to explore sans clothes.

Fiji-based Robert and Alwyn Nink, both 57, joined the Helios Society in the Dandenong Ranges in 2016, thinking it was an ideal place to escape from the world with like-minded nude enthusiasts.
However, the experience has left the Ninks feeling anything but liberated, as a battle to upgrade their cabin turned into a nasty feud with the nudist club’s secretary that led to allegations of cups of urine being left on a table. Continued…Read full original article…

Located east of Cleveland in White County, Mountain Creek Grove rents out tents and recreational vehicle spaces to nudists. The wooded site features a pool, a hot tub and a clubhouse.

Early voting is underway in many states as primary season kicks into full gear. In Georgia, one candidate for Congress operates a nudist retreat and might have a good chance of winning the Democratic primary in the 14th Congressional District. J.D. Pooley/Getty Images

“Some couples may only want to use the sexy atmosphere as inspiration and carry the energy back with them to their bedrooms and fantasies,” the Grove’s website says. “Others are far more gregarious and party animals are known to appear. For those seeking to connect with other like-minded and free-spirited sybarites the Grove is the ideal venue.” Continued…Read full original article…

I remember my first naturist break away from the “real” world five years ago. I went to a naturist campground and spent five days in a setting which only required that I wear clothing when I got cold [it happened – Canadian prairies in early June]. I did have to put on clothing when I left the sanctuary of the Green Haven Sun Club. Years later, my wife and I went to Costa Natura in Spain for two weeks. Like at Green Haven, once I left the grounds of the large naturistcommunity, nudity wasn’t an option.

Clothing required – but when an opportunity presents …

Holly, my Twitter friend, has just returned from her first naturist holiday to a site in Fuerteventura. And as to be expected, once outside the complex and away from the clothing optional beach, she wore clothing. And, as you can see in the photo, she accepted that condition with grace. In a recent post she stated: “I may be clothed but you don’t need to be naked to be a naturist – it’s a mindset not a state of dress!”

Now, I have to confess that I cross the line from naturist site to clothed [textile] site and find myself daring to go nude, taking risks. Of course, I try to be extra careful in setting up the photo scene. An example was yesterday when I visited my friends at Prairie Suns Naturist Club. On the way home, which I was doing while driving nude, I stopped at a creek which had overflown its banks – Eagle Creek. There, I again set up my camera and took a photo, just one photo, of myself in front of the creek. I was seen by two separate passing motorists. Luckily, no one stopped to investigate. Continued…Read full original article…

You might think that nudists would be fairly visible and easy to track down. Isn’t there a latent exhibitionism in casting your clothes to the wind and stepping out mother-naked into the sunshine? An out-and-proud statement of personal freedom? But when I set out to find them, it turns out that many Irish naturists are keen to keep their identities, if not their bodies, firmly under wraps, and at least some of them are as slippery as eels.

Pat Gallagher at his home in Roscommon with Fionola Meredith Brenda Fitzsimons

A prospective encounter with a secret group of nudists from north Co Antrim looks promising until it becomes clear that the price of meeting them was the surrender of my own clothes, in the interests of creating “a level playing field”.

“Go on: dare to bare,” they repeatedly urge me. When I decline, pleading a preference for private nudity – I have no problem leaping naked into the surf on a remote Donegal beach, and have done so, but I don’t want anyone else around to watch me do it – the trail suddenly goes cold. Continued…Read full original article…

5 questions to NaturistBnB5 questions for Naturist BnB – an Airbnb for naturists. The idea is to create a place similar to AirBnB but where clothes free lovers can stay naked on their vacations.

We have been naturist for years and spend without clothes most of the time if weather and community around us permits. We have also travelled around a lot and have many great experiences around the world. During the travels we stayed in various accommodations from luxury resorts to cabins and backbackers hostels. Then we came across Airbnb. We loved the concept and eventually decided to try hosting ourselves. It was million times better what we expected! We have gain a lot of wonderful friends and fun experiences – without leaving our home!

Beautiful blond european girl lying on sandy beach nude

What is a bit tricky with Airbnb however is we have to stay clothed while we have guests in our house. Which we don’t like. We did try to list at “clothing optional” or “nudist” at Airbnb, but our bookings fall down dramatically. Apparently textile people are not interested booking with a nudist host.

Then we started to remembering our naturist holiday bookings. It was always a bit challenge to find the place to go and eventually ended in the most obvious places – where everybody else goes as well. Not the freedom to go anywhere as we had when travelling textile. Then we realised it! There is no Airbnb alternative for naturist people. If there would, it would be fantastic opportunity to travel anywhere and enjoy social nudism with a local host. Best parts of both: textile and nudist world! Continued…Read full original article…

The naked body is as old as humanity. But nudism as a social form, organised into clubs and societies, only came of age in England in the 1920s. Its practitioners were from a range of backgrounds and included those with interests in “physical culture” (today we would refer to this as body building and beauty contests). Many were interested in natural health, including vegetarian and raw food diets, and new exercise regimes from hiking to yoga.

Nudism was particularly embraced by artists and intellectuals as part of a wider set of progressive practices associated with free thought. Many were internationalists inspired by longer standing German nudist traditions, which were far more popular and organised on a larger scale than English efforts. They understood disrobing to be part of a wider ideal of physical, mental and spiritual liberation. Continued…Read full original article…

I must admit that when I was first approached to put something in print about naturism in Galway I honestly did not know where to start. Naturism is around us, wherever we wish to find the opportunity. For me my home and my back garden present the ideal opportunities and as a result I spend most of my time nude. That is very easy for me, my house and garden are relatively private and being a naturist all of my life I am not really too upset if a neighbour just happens to see me from a distance from an upstairs bedroom window or whatever. I have lived in my present house for almost fifteen years and nobody has thus far objected or complained.

However most naturists are not as lucky as I and do not have the privacy. So how and where do they do to get that all over tan for themselves! They must travel to discrete and secluded places to enjoy their recreation and freedom. The Galway coastline is a rugged one, being constantly battered by the Atlantic Ocean. As a result the coast is in the main a rocky one and to a great extent devoid of sand. Those sandy areas that do exist are, in comparison to those on the sheltered eastern coast, small short stretches. However we also have numerous lakes that are suitable for naturism and nude recreation and I shall include these as well, ones that I have tried out on occasions. Continued…Read full original article…

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